We recently had the pleasure to meet Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett in the flesh! Blue Willow Bookshop hosted a reading before the pair headed to the Texas Book Festival in Austin. This was our first time visiting the bookshop, and let me say, we were charmed enough to make the drive to Memorial Dr. in the future.
I did not bring my Canon because I figured the space would be small and my camera would be annoying both for me to carry and to fellow audience members as I tried to frame photos. I was right.
The reading was free and open to the public (I assume the number of attendants was limited by fire code requirements). It was a crowded but intimate affair. I awkwardly passed and waved hello to Jon and Mac on my way to the restroom before the reading.
Yago quickly secured his indie bookstore bootie (a Grumpy Monkey book and plushy) while I secured mine. These ADORABLE finger puppets. I think I will go back and buy Mila a little black bear one as well. Her current favorite stuffy is a little black bear named Otto.
The Presentation
After excusing themselves to the tiny back workroom, Jon and Mac re-emerged with an official introduction to happy and eager applause. Mac succumbed to our Texan ways by sporting the tackiest camo Buc-ee’s fleece hoodie lol. Excuse the blur, I was laughing too hard.
Meanwhile Klassen is over there, laughing in a cardigan.
The pair read their latest release, The Three Billy Goats Gruff (October 2022). and The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse (2017), which I think reads a lot like a fairy tale. Mac’s reading was of course hilarious. This was our first time hearing the Goats book so it was extra funny. I had forgotten how funny the 2017 title is as well. Klassen conferred, admitting, “that is a good story,” after he said Triangle is his favorite collaborative book between him and Mac (The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse, being Mac’s favorite).
There was room for questions between the two books. A child in the audience brought up Mac’s and Shawn Harris’s pandemic book club project turned book: The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza, to the awkward discomfort of Jon Klassen. lol
browsing books as they read the 2nd title. lol
Jon then discussed the artistic process. Such as how much research actually goes behind drawing ground, for example, and trolls, of course. He alluded to a title he read as a child for inspiring the looks of his troll. Unlike Mo Willems (according to Mac), they kindly shared their trade secrets for the benefit of future writers/illustrators in the audience.
The secrets btw, were RESEARCH and SCALE, when it comes to writing and drawing well, respectively.
My husband, Yago, and I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. It truly brings me joy to attend author events and support their art and livelihood. Children’s books, especially the ones that are well-illustrated and written carry universal truths that readers must use critical thinking to uncover. They can be like poetry in that the limited space –oftentimes 32 pages– must keep the story focused and concise.
The Book Signing
Buying the book from Blue Willow Bookshop allows you to get the copy signed. I opted to have only one other title autographed and personalized for Yago. I think they may have a limit of like 10 books, judging by the stack the people in front of us showed up with!
A few weeks before he came to Houston, Yago mentioned how Jon Klassen “is my favorite illustrator in the whole world.” So I am really glad he got to meet him in person.
instead of fan-girling and telling them both how much I love them lol
Yago, being the direct and unimpressed child that he is, was not overly star-struck, but I think children’s authors and illustrators often love this about their audience. Children often ask literal and unassuming questions. Santi asked Jon (I captured the moment above):
“Where did the rock from the sky come from?”.
Jon: “Where do you think it came from?”
Yago: “Probably outer space… since that’s where rocks fall from”
Their reading definitely filled my cup and I am so glad I attended. I hope Santiago carries these reading experiences with him into adulthood! Attending readings exposes him to these cultural events and hopefully builds his self-confidence to pursue his own interests and (dare I say) dreams. This was our first author reading in 3 years, only his second, but I hope they start becoming a regular thing as more in person events become available again.
The After-Reading
We treated ourselves to delicious Indian food at Nirvana Indian Restaurant, across the street from the bookshop, to conclude a fulfilling evening. It was Yago’s first time eating Indian food. He liked it!
Thank you for checking out our reading post. What is something you would ask Jon or Mac? Did you attend or wish you would have attended author events as a child?
Biblioterika 